Cameroon general among six killed in helicopter crash

Jan. 23 (UPI) -- A Cameroon military helicopter crashed near Cameroon's northern border with Nigeria, killing six people, including the commander of the central African nation's troops, the military said.

Gen. Jacob Kodji, who was coordinating the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency, died in the crash Sunday night near Bogo, a Cameroon village, while returning from an inspection mission, a top military official said.

Kodji was appointed by President Paul Biya.

Three other army officers, Col. Alphonse Kameni, commander of the fourth region, and two lieutenants, Tchinda Muluh and Tankam Aurelien, died along with two crew members.

The remains of the victims were to be sent to Yaounde on Monday.